Setting the Stage: No. 5 Iowa

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Colorado State (1-2) at No. 5 Iowa (3-0)
Kinnick Stadium | Iowa City, Iowa
Saturday, Sept. 25, 1:30 p.m.

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Physical Outlook Suits McBride Just Fine

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Toby McBride has a bit of insomnia with No. 5 Iowa on the schedule Saturday, but not for the reasons you may think.

"I can't wait," he said. "Yes. Smash-mouth football against one of the top offensive lines is what I love. I'm looking forward to it. I can't sleep at night because I'm looking forward to it."

The Hawkeyes' reputation precedes them, year after year. You can check off big every year. Physical, annually. Heavy run team, always. Just the way McBride wants it. Offensive linemen prefer to run block over pass protection, and McBride views his job across from them in the same manner.

Stopping the run is always primary to a defense reaching goals, and Iowa will present a challenge. It is only averaging 143.7 yards per game on the ground, but top back Tyler Goodson is averaging 102.3 as the team is generating less than 300 yards per game. They like to get it done the old fashioned way, and McBride finds that a breath of fresh air.

"Personally, I would like to play run more. Sitting where they're at, they are more a heavy run team than pass," he said. "That's something we're all looking forward to. Going into a stretch team, it's quick feet. Expecting run every down, smash-mouth football, is something you don't get to play a lot in this age of college football; a lot of teams like to air it out.

"It's nothing other than looking forward to playing some smash-mouth football, football that we like to play. Going in there versus the No. 5 team as well as one of the best offensive lines in college football, we're kinda using that as a measuring stick.. We have a chance to against these top guys everyone looks at. To go in there and compete like we need to, that's something we all look forward too."

Colorado State's defensive front took a big step forward in 2020, allowing teams less than 110 yards per game on the ground. In the first week, the unit was hit hard by South Dakota State, but the Rams regrouped in each of the past two games. Iowa's run game will be their toughest challenge yet, and Saturday can't get here fast enough for McBride's liking.

Come On Feel The Noise

The Rams did at practice this week, moving inside Canvas Stadium to pump in crowd noise in preparation for what they expect to face at Kinnick Stadium.

"It's louder than it will be; we have it really loud," head coach Steve Addazio said after Wednesday's practice. "Just get it extreme and work at it at an extreme level."

Just as he wants his team to practice as they'll play, he wanted his roster working in conditions they'll face on the road. Monday was rough, Tuesday was better and he expected by the end of the week the Rams will be prepared for whatever the crowd may bring.

Colorado State signals in plays on both sides of the ball, so that's not the main issue for Addazio. What it can affect is cadence, so the offense will move to silent, which they have to get used to. He said there will not a lot of games where it becomes an issue, but he said it's always good "to have it banked."

The reality as he sees it, the drain may be more in the head.

"I think what happens in crowd noise, if you're not a silent-cadence operation all the time … Guys are used to coaches on the field coaching them and yelling stuff to them," he said. "What happens is all the sudden when you pump it in like this, guys all the sudden for the first time feel like they're playing on an island. It's a mental thing. It's all mental. It's a very uncomfortable feeling. Essentially you lose control, you've got to count on everybody doing their job. Until you get used to that, it's a little cumbersome."

Here and There

Thomas Pannunzio had filled in for Dante Wright as a punt returner before, but he wasn't the first option last week, in part because the team is worried about wear and tear. He's already the prime return man on kickoffs, he appears on multiple other special teams and he now is the team's starting nickelback. But after a 70-yard scoring return last week, one should expect him back in the role. … Safety Tywan Francis returned to practice this week, and Addazio still views him as probable for the game. Wright would be listed as possible. … Trey McBride watch: He is now seven receptions behind Crockett Gillmore for fourth-most in a career by a tight end; 286 yards shy of Keli McGregor for second; one touchdown shy of Kivon Cartwright for second.

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Tywan Francis

Toby McBride

Trey McBride

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